The Flywheel

This Week's Program: MAY 29, 2009

The State of our District Schools

Now that the May Special Election is behind us, our
own Bruce Harter, Superintendent of the WCCUSD, will
discuss the financial status of the district, the revised
revenue forecast and likely outcomes.

Last week's MEETING: May 22nd, 2009

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

Soon-to-be President Glenn Daggs rang
the bell and called the meeting to order for absent-but-still-President Mark
Howe. The pledge of allegiance was led by Rafael
Madrigal. Perhaps signaling a coming Presidency
of few but high-impact words, Glenn offered this thought
for the day: “Life changes everything.”

Visiting Rotarians

Beth Rosener joined us from the Mill Valley Rotary Club.

Rotarians with Guests

Rhonda Harris introduced her guest,
Fred Clement, an architect serving in the position
of Building Official for the City of Richmond.

Judy Kafka brought two guests: Betsy
Raymond, a photographer and artist, and Nancy Nichol,
a professor at San Francisco State University.

Announcements

Rafael Madrigal announced this year’s
Richmond Rotary Oakland A’s Game event on Saturday,
August 22. Game time against the Detroit Tigers is
6:00pm at the Oakland Coliseum. Come enjoy fireworks
and all-you-can-eat stadium food (including admission)
for $30 per person. Sign up with Rafael.

Rhonda Harris announced the successful
completion of this year’s Teen Moms project.
Forty-eight baskets of diapers, wipes, and other useful
items (including hand-made quilts presented to the
Club a few weeks ago) were packed by Richmond Rotarians
and delivered to young student mom recipients at West
County schools.

Who Am I?

Alan Blavins, a recent new-member
inductee, did his “Who Am I?” He was born
as a breached twin under the kitchen table at home
in London during a bombing raid near the end of World
War Two. When things calmed down and he grew older,
his parents discovered he had drawing talent and sent
him to art school to become a painter.

After graduation and some time with other starving artists,
Alan decided he needed to earn a living and joined an
advertising agency. During a protracted industry strike,
he sold everything he owned in nine days and moved from
London to Hong Kong, a decision helped along by complications
arising from an affair with a woman whose husband was
a rugged, religious rugby player. Alan could see it coming:
the betrayed husband would brutally beat the daylights
out of him and then quickly ask for divine forgiveness.
So he figured it was good to get out of town.

In Hong Kong, Alan joined another ad agency and won
the Hennessy Cognac account, which led to some fun years
of making advertising commercials and jet-setting between
London, France, and Hong Kong. He later moved to Australia
and then to New Zealand (which Alan describes as one
of the most spectacularly beautiful places on earth!).

Alan eventually moved to San Francisco, where he spent
a few more years working for another ad agency before
co-founding his own, which he ran for about 20 years.
He sold his interest in the business last year and now
enjoys painting portraits (still good at drawing) and
fishing with his son. Being age 65, he said he’s
been married to his third wife for 20 years and looking
forward to 20 more. Alan, we’re glad to have you
with us!

Recognitions

Ralph Hill announced that his 86th
birthday is coming up next Monday and that he and his
wife may once again celebrate in a lovely rented bungalow
on the Straits of Carquinez (or maybe at home).

Nabil Wahbeh had a happy birthday
on Wednesday (but he forgot to share the numerical
value).

Rafael Madrigal was (finally) presented
with his Blue Badge.

Happy and Sad Dollars

Herb Cole had happy dollars because Werner
Schwarz is now able to drive himself to
Rotary again and also because Judy Kafka is
back.

George Egan made his annual generous
happy-dollars contribution in celebration of his “born
again” experience 41 years ago. He was in a major
car accident on May 26, 1968. His heart stopped, he
went into a coma, and he woke up over two months later
in August. Now that’s something to be very happy
about!

Judy Kafka was happy to be back
to Rotary after having eye surgery, one of the results
being she couldn’t drive for a while.

Rhonda Harris offered happy dollars
for her decision to enter the election next year for
a seat on the Richmond City Council. She felt comforted
by David Brown having characterized
the idea as being only insane instead of crazy.

David quickly followed up with happy
dollars to celebrate Rhonda’s decision and then
said, without meaning anything personal against incumbents,
that her victory would at least double the IQ of the
Richmond City Council.

Erle Brown provided happy dollars
for Monday’s honoring of Don Hardison at
Richmond’s Historical Preservation Awards Ceremony
(the recognition being not just that Don himself is
well preserved, which he is, but that he and his architectural
firm have made so many contributions over the years
to places and buildings all around the City of Richmond).
Erle was also happy to have received Paul Harris dollars
from a couple of members who will be recognized at
a future meeting.

Jim Young was happy that his son
and wife are safely back from their honeymoon trip
and that his son will be attending San Jose State for
a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Raffle Results

Rich Alexander drew a white ball.

Norm’s Nonsense

This joke goes back to when Grant Calhoun was
President of Richmond Rotary and was told at one of his
Board meetings in 1982.

- This fellow wasn't feeling
so good so he checked into a hospital for a complete
exam. After a couple of days the doctor came into his
room wearing a face mask, rubber gloves and smock, and
announced: "Well Mr. Jones, after extensive tests
you have been diagnosed as having Syphilis, Gonorrhea,
Herpes and Aids. So you are going to have to stay here
awhile, and your diet will consist strictly of pancakes
and filet of sole."

Patient: "This is terrible
news, but why am I restricted to pancakes and filet of
sole?"

Doctor: "Because that's all we can slide
under the door."

THE PROGRAM

The Joy of Romance

Before introducing the speaker, Jim Young quickly
dispelled untrue rumors that had started to spread (not
with any malicious intent on Herb Cole’s part)
about today’s program containing descriptions and/or
distribution of vibrator devices.

Joy Nordenstrom, a multiple-degree graduate of Mills
College in Oakland, is the founder and principal of San
Francisco-based Joy of Romance, Inc. (www.joyofromance.com).
Her firm is dedicated to helping people in various situations
(single, dating, engaged, newlyweds, honeymooners, starting
a family, or together for years) create passionate and
thriving relationships.

Her service offerings continue to expand and include
coaching, counseling, profile assessments, matchmaking,
date and event arrangements, and other action planning.
Believing that males more often don’t “get
it”, Joy is particularly interested in her business
practice to connect with and be of help to men.

With frequent references to chemistry, neuroscience,
and psychology, Joy reminded us of the importance of
the brain and working with the natural patterns of romantic
relationship development (from the attraction phase to
the attachment and companion-making phase).

By recognizing that relationships are a “dance” between
yin and yang, the masculine and the feminine, we can
then be alert to discover insights that help us better
understand how we give and receive love and thereby be
more successful.

For example, do we properly react to our partner’s
primary “love language”? This concept arises
out of how someone responds to the following statement: “I
feel most loved and appreciated by someone when they
provide me gifts, physical touch, acts of service, words
of affirmation, or quality time.” Hmm, what to
do if the response is “all of the above”?!
For a free, no-obligations copy of the full Love Languages
quiz, send Joy an email at joy@joyofromance.com.

So what is the primary difference between thriving couples
and troubled couples? As is often the case, common sense
is not always common practice. A successful relationship
involves desire, mutual benefits, and commitment. Relationship
maintenance should include doses of the fun, simple,
and creative things while avoiding “stuck on sameness”.

During Q&A, Joy talked a little about aphrodisiacs.
Setting and mood are important (lighting, background
music, pleasant food aromas). An initial small amount
of alcohol for women can be good. Food with protein is
best while carbohydrates are bad (sleepiness). Watermelon
(especially with part of the rind) is the new oyster.
Olive oil, avocados, and dark greens are also good. Joy
has more research (and a book?) coming out on this subject
so watch her website.

Upcoming Programs

June 5
Frances Dinkelspiel, author of the “Tower of
Gold” discusses her
great great grandfather, Isiais Hellman and his remarkable
legacy of vision, innovation and philanthropy which
includes the founding of Winehaven in Richmond, Wells
Fargo Bank in San Francisco and the University of
Southern California in Los Angeles.

June 12
At the Richmond Rotary, the ritual of "out with the
old and in with the new" takes on a particularly
entertaining quality. Take it from someone in the
know: you don't want to miss it.

Have a suggestion for a speaker?
Please pass along the name and contact information
to Jim Young.